They notch about half way through then can break at any time, sometimes they go right away and sometimes they hang in there.

It takes a heavy topspin and pace ball to notch them, then when the notches are deep, an atomic flat ball to snap them.

J

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Nice theory you got there! I wish that's how it would work for me. I hit with topspin and power but they just don't seem to break. If they don't break soon I will probably cut them out. I just really wanna break them so badly. So long since I have broken strings just because I only use poly... As for synthetic gut, I could break those pretty easily.....

I hit with topspin and power but they just don't seem to break. If they don't break soon I will probably cut them out. I just really wanna break them so badly.

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I've seen a few posts on this board with people asking how to break strings, wishing they could break them, etc. Could you do me a favour and explain why? I just don't understand why anyone would want it to happen, unless it's some sort of macho thing (and even then I don't understand it, but I'm getting old now so maybe I'm just out of touch...)

I've seen a few posts on this board with people asking how to break strings, wishing they could break them, etc. Could you do me a favour and explain why? I just don't understand why anyone would want it to happen, unless it's some sort of macho thing (and even then I don't understand it, but I'm getting old now so maybe I'm just out of touch...)

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Well, its not that I want to break strings every hour but when you break strings from time to time it makes you feel good. And when your strings don't break and just move around your whole racquet, it just gets you frustrated. I'm just wondering why the heck mine arean't breaking. I've always cut out polys and never broke 'em but this time I'm gonna break them somehow. As for syn. gut, it's very easy for me to break it so not a problem there...

The Kevlar gut blends are pretty good, the bite of the kevlar, but some good pop from the gut.

As far as lux blends go, I actually like how ALU mains and NRG2 crosses play, but that lasts me about half as long as an ALU/VS blend.

The only way to tell for sure is to string up the variations.

How many hours do you get out of your current stringjob?

J

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I can usually get a week out of my current setup of the kevlar and gamma prodigy. With a week being about 14-16 hours. At that point the tension is lost and the strings become rahter unpredictable. Is there a syn gut that you can recommend that you feel is better and how do you feel about a multi in that set-up. I get good feel with the syn. gut and wondering if the longevity of a multi might be longer with similiar feel. If so do you have a multi you sould suggest?

I am probably gonna use the ALU rough for my next job because never tried full poly and just wanna give it a shot.

I was tempted to do the natural gut crosses, but I am afraid I will like it and can definitely not afford that setup.

My cousin ,who is approximately a high-end level 3.0 player, wants to buy a Wilson K Six-One Tour 90 and wants a hybrid stringing with natural gut mains and Luxilon Alu Power Rough crosses and asked me what tension I would recommend. I think his swings are not yet developed to the level where he could generate enough power on his own with this racket (that’s why I suggested him not to buy a tour 90 in the first place…) , so I recommended him to string it relatively loosely to compensate for that and to be able to hit a bit deeper. However, I do not use the Tour 90, so I found it hard to give him exact numbers. I thought of 54 for the mains and 51 for the crosses. Do you think it could work? Or would you suggest something different?

I can usually get a week out of my current setup of the kevlar and gamma prodigy. With a week being about 14-16 hours. At that point the tension is lost and the strings become rahter unpredictable. Is there a syn gut that you can recommend that you feel is better and how do you feel about a multi in that set-up. I get good feel with the syn. gut and wondering if the longevity of a multi might be longer with similiar feel. If so do you have a multi you sould suggest?

I am probably gonna use the ALU rough for my next job because never tried full poly and just wanna give it a shot.

I was tempted to do the natural gut crosses, but I am afraid I will like it and can definitely not afford that setup.

Thanks for your response!

Brandon

Thanks

Thanks for reply.

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If you want something with a bit more bite I like NRG2/NXT tour. If you want more pop then something like Prince Premier.

My cousin ,who is approximately a high-end level 3.0 player, wants to buy a Wilson K Six-One Tour 90 and wants a hybrid stringing with natural gut mains and Luxilon Alu Power Rough crosses and asked me what tension I would recommend. I think his swings are not yet developed to the level where he could generate enough power on his own with this racket (that’s why I suggested him not to buy a tour 90 in the first place…) , so I recommended him to string it relatively loosely to compensate for that and to be able to hit a bit deeper. However, I do not use the Tour 90, so I found it hard to give him exact numbers. I thought of 54 for the mains and 51 for the crosses. Do you think it could work? Or would you suggest something different?

Thanks for your help in advance. Yves

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He want's Federer's racquet, with Federer's stringjob, why not use Federer's tension aswell.

What you suggested sounds about right I would go 4lb lower on the cross, so 54/50 instead of 54/51.

Seriously though, it doesn't matter for a 3.0ish player.

Tension changes your depth, and if you do not have a constant repeatable stroke then attempting to dial in depth is silly.

So yea, let it fly, as long as he likes the racquet, and has fun playing, then good for him.

He want's Federer's racquet, with Federer's stringjob, why not use Federer's tension aswell.

What you suggested sounds about right I would go 4lb lower on the cross, so 54/50 instead of 54/51.

Seriously though, it doesn't matter for a 3.0ish player.

Tension changes your depth, and if you do not have a constant repeatable stroke then attempting to dial in depth is silly.

So yea, let it fly, as long as he likes the racquet, and has fun playing, then good for him.

J

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Thanks for the quick reply and the good advice. You are right, probably at level 3.0 with a racket that needs better developed skills there is no point in "fine-tuning", I just wanted to get the best out of the situation and I knew you were familiar with the racquet, so I thought it would still be worth asking. Thanks again for the answer, then I'll suggest 54/50 for him and hope he'll be happy with his Federer-style racquet.

Thanks for the quick reply and the good advice. You are right, probably at level 3.0 with a racket that needs better developed skills there is no point in "fine-tuning", I just wanted to get the best out of the situation and I knew you were familiar with the racquet, so I thought it would still be worth asking. Thanks again for the answer, then I'll suggest 54/50 for him and hope he'll be happy with his Federer-style racquet.

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No problem, at that level it is just about having fun. If he starts taking lessons, and gets on a league team, and begins to want to improve, and play tournaments, then maybe he will get more interested in what equipment suits him best for the game he is trying to develop and his current skillset.

But if he just wants to knock around with his buddies, get a good sweat going, and have some fun, then who are you or I to tell him what racquet or string he should be using to do it.

Jolly, I'd say that I'm truthfully a 3.5 level player. I use a Babolat Aero Storm strung with this synthetic gut (that was on the demo at the store...I liked the racquet so much I just said put whatever string was on the demo, on the racquet). I believe it's Gosen Micro or something along those lines. Very cheap, but my strokes are fine. Strung at about 58lbs.

Do you think I should try out some poly? I have a case of Babolat Pro Hurricane, and from what I've read, poly can sometimes be a big difference maker for some people. Would you recommend my trying it?

Jolly, I'd say that I'm truthfully a 3.5 level player. I use a Babolat Aero Storm strung with this synthetic gut (that was on the demo at the store...I liked the racquet so much I just said put whatever string was on the demo, on the racquet). I believe it's Gosen Micro or something along those lines. Very cheap, but my strokes are fine. Strung at about 58lbs.

Do you think I should try out some poly? I have a case of Babolat Pro Hurricane, and from what I've read, poly can sometimes be a big difference maker for some people. Would you recommend my trying it?

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Nope not at all.

I have a buddy who is an absolutely ball crushing 5.5 player, and he hits the highest quality ball with **** cheap Gosen synthetic (He is a VERY flat hitter).

Just stick with what you have, and keep working on improving your game.

Once you start breaking the Gosen inside of 2 hours then you will have about the right amount of batspeed that poly will make a difference to you.

Can someone explain to me why a T-2000 with worn out 30 year-old natural gut plays twice as well as a Pro Staff Classic with synthetic gut or a poly hybrid at 60+ pounds?

It's really frustrating that I play better with a 40 year-old racket than a modern one... so long as I don't shank the frame.

Guess I need to get a GOOD multifilament on my PSC at a reasonable tension instead of trying all these crappy synthetic guts and ALU Power hybrids with low-end multis and such...

(For the record, the racquets weigh about the same, but the T-2000's string pattern is about twice as dense, and it's 3 pounds HL instead of 11 pounds HL. Also, it's much less stiff than the Pro Staff)

So your basically saying if I can't break synthetic or multi strings in 2-3 hrs, I should not be using ploy?
tks

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use what you want. poly's do 2 things well, durability and spin (if you have sufficient racquet head speed). If you don't swing hard enough to break syn gut in 2-3 hrs, you don't need the durability and you likely don't have the racquet head speed to maximize its spin potential. Then, all you're really getting is a harsh, dead feeling string that loses tension and playability quickly. I'm generalizing here of course.

use what you want. poly's do 2 things well, durability and spin (if you have sufficient racquet head speed). If you don't swing hard enough to break syn gut in 2-3 hrs, you don't need the durability and you likely don't have the racquet head speed to maximize its spin potential. Then, all you're really getting is a harsh, dead feeling string that loses tension and playability quickly. I'm generalizing here of course.

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I would like to use what's best suited for me/my game. I have been using full poly but if I'm not generating the swing speed needed then I should think about changing. I just ordered pro supex maxim touch and will try it out next week.

Of course, none of this choosing a string stuff is any different than making any different choice in your life.

If you are looking to buy a house, or car, or stock, or new suit, then you do your own research, ask the advice of some people that you respect, consider everything and make your own decision.

I never sought to imply that my word was law, or the one universal truth, this guide, and advice given are simply my observations collected from my own personal playing, and observations of other players of varied levels and ablilities and the quality of ball that they are able to consistiently generate with various setups.

I take that information run it through the frightening place that is my brain, and spew out the results.

If my opinion prompts someone to try out something they wouldn't normally and it works out well for them, then great, if they decide they want to go in a different direction, or that they like something I reccomended against better, then good for them.

If my opinion prompts someone to try out something they wouldn't normally and it works out well for them, then great, if they decide they want to go in a different direction, or that they like something I reccomended against better, then good for them.

But I do have a pretty good batting average with stuff like this.

J

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Sure, understood. I would have thought there are plenty of players out there who hit "relatively" flat, don't bang the crap out of it, who don't break string who string at a very low tension for example. They could still benefit from poly.

I'd imagine there are some strings out there that I wouldn't break after 2-3 hours but I play much better with poly and I use a fair bit of topspin.

I'd imagine there are some strings out there that I wouldn't break after 2-3 hours but I play much better with poly and I use a fair bit of topspin.

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About how long does a basic syngut like a PSG16 or Gosen 16 last you?

I would be shocked to hear that you get more than 3 hours of practice out of it, especially given that you play on clay fairly often.

As far as the guys who hit fairly flat, don't hit too hard, and string low. It is my experience, and observation from my side of the net that that group of players hit a higher quality ball with a syngut, or gut, or multi. Now which feels better to them may be different, but as far as the actual quality of the ball struck, I have never found such a player who generated a better ball with a poly stringjob.

Not to say it doesn't exist, because there are lots of people out there with lots of playing styles, just that I haven't noticed it.

Synthetic Gut. The go-to string for 80% of all tennis players. Made of nylon (Not to be confused with tournament nylon) syn-gut is cheap, plays fairly well for a short time, and is very common. Highly reccomended to most players 3.5 and lower. Prince Synthetic Gut is the most popular string, but several other companies make good quality fine playing syn-guts. If you are a string breaker, syn-gut is not very durable and if you are a hard hitter you may find it to get soft rather quickly aswell. If you are just starting out experimenting with strings, the first thing you do is get a basic syn gut installed, and use that as your starting point to determine where you go from there, what you want more or less of. You may just find that the syn-gut suits you just fine, and end up staying with it for the rest of your tennis playing days.

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Synthetic gut is a fancy name for monofilament nylon, usually with a special color coating to make it look different from so-called "tournament nylon" and perhaps an additive like kevlar (in Prince's Duraflex). These strings are low quality and inexpensive unless you break strings frequently and don't string yourself, in which case the labor cost can be quite high.

Prince Synthetic Gut in both forms plays quite well for a few hours (meaning 3-4 unless you break it) and then it becomes garbage... which is OK if you buy it in reels and string yourself. TERRIBLE if you pay for stringing.

I know this post was a little while ago, but I'm pretty excited about my "accomplishments"

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Well done.

In order to completely tally your man-points, we need to know the circumstances of the racquet breaking. If you busted it in two over your knee when it was in playable condition, that is some major points.

Breaking tennis balls is always good, my record is 3 in an hour. I think it depends on the batch, because some cases I don't break any, and some cases I break them every other time.

In order to completely tally your man-points, we need to know the circumstances of the racquet breaking. If you busted it in two over your knee when it was in playable condition, that is some major points.

Breaking tennis balls is always good, my record is 3 in an hour. I think it depends on the batch, because some cases I don't break any, and some cases I break them every other time.

J

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Are there particular brands of tennis balls that are more susceptible to breaking?

In order to completely tally your man-points, we need to know the circumstances of the racquet breaking. If you busted it in two over your knee when it was in playable condition, that is some major points.

Breaking tennis balls is always good, my record is 3 in an hour. I think it depends on the batch, because some cases I don't break any, and some cases I break them every other time.

J

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I cracked it at the throat in an angry rage. I loved busting the ball even more though. I'm 14 so it made me feel great.

Are there particular brands of tennis balls that are more susceptible to breaking?

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I almost always play with plain old penn extra dutys.

They are the ones I break most often.

I have one friend who will only play with Wilson Championships (which go dead in 15 mins, which is an advantage to him).

Sometimes I play with Wilson US Opens.

And when I hit with Dennis10is we use either Penn ATP (if I am bringing) or Dunlop Grand Prix (If he is bringing) because anything else just pukes instantly (like 2 cans of balls flat in under 45 mins).

I have broken mostly the regular Penns, I don't know if it is because they are inferior quality, or because I mostly play with them, or some combination of both (most likely).

I have one friend who will only play with Wilson Championships (which go dead in 15 mins, which is an advantage to him).

Sometimes I play with Wilson US Opens.

And when I hit with Dennis10is we use either Penn ATP (if I am bringing) or Dunlop Grand Prix (If he is bringing) because anything else just pukes instantly (like 2 cans of balls flat in under 45 mins).

I have broken mostly the regular Penns, I don't know if it is because they are inferior quality, or because I mostly play with them, or some combination of both (most likely).

J

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Bolt and I have found the Penn Extra Duty's fuzz up too quickly, almost looking like a fur ball after 15 minutes.

Dunlops Grand Prix Extra Duty seem to have decent life but my elbow hasn't liked them too much. I haven't weighed them but they feel slightly heavier to me.

I have also noticed that my elbow doesn't like it when I hit with semi-dead or dead balls. I am not sure what the reason for this?

I have one friend who will only play with Wilson Championships (which go dead in 15 mins, which is an advantage to him).

Sometimes I play with Wilson US Opens.

And when I hit with Dennis10is we use either Penn ATP (if I am bringing) or Dunlop Grand Prix (If he is bringing) because anything else just pukes instantly (like 2 cans of balls flat in under 45 mins).

I have broken mostly the regular Penns, I don't know if it is because they are inferior quality, or because I mostly play with them, or some combination of both (most likely).

J

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Yeah I usually play with Wilson US Open extra duty balls. That's what I broke. And cool, 10 points and I'm not even a man yet!